Home Depot sued for selling smog-forming paints

LOS ANGELES 
Southern California air quality regulators, several counties and the city of Los Angeles are suing big-box retailer Home Depot for illegally selling smog-forming paints from 2007 to 2010.

Home Depot lawyers say the home improvement chain has cooperated and removed paints, lacquers and other coatings that contain excessive levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

The Los Angeles Times says in lawsuits filed Thursday that illegal products were sold at more than two dozen stores after the company was notified that it was breaking local air regulation laws.

The suit filed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District seeks $30 million in civil penalties.

The other suit alleging unfair business practices and false advertising was filed by Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and the city of Los Angeles.